Northern Valley Press 3.6.23

NORTHERN VALLEY

NINETY YEARSOF SERVICE

The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County awarded 21 grants, totaling $115,000, to nonprofit agencies responding to increased need in the community from COVID-19 and the impact of Hurricane Ida. Founded in 1933, The Community Chest, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, supports local nonprofit organizations serving people in need in eastern Bergen County

Grant Recipients

•Bergen Family Center

•Bergen Performing Arts Center

• Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative

• Center for Food Action

•The Center for Hope and Safety

• Dr. John Grieco Scholarship Fund

• Encounters in Black Traditions

• Englewood Health

• Family Promise of Bergen County

•Flat Rock Brook Nature

See THE CHEST on page 2

The Tenafly Nature Center sells out sessions on maple sugaring TNC has been a force for good in the Northern Valley, and in families’ memories, for 60 years.

SEE PAGE 12

AT HOME WITH A TRAILBLAZER AT HOME WITH A TRAILBLAZER

Late Sophie Heymann gets Lustron exhibition

MARCH 2023

CRESSKILL LIBRARY TAKESTO NEWDIGS FORYEAROF RENOVATION

Cresskill Public Library leaves Union Avenue (temporarily) effective March 13

At long last, the Cresskill Public Library is going under renovation, effective March 13.

The library is relocating to a temporary space, Suite 101 at 210 Knickerbocker Road, for approximately one year

The library will be closed March 10–12 and reopening at its temporary home on March 13.

“Sophie Heymann:Her Life and Legacy,” runs Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12 from noon to 2 p.m. at Closter’s historic Harold Hess Lustron House, 421 Durie Ave., which she saved. The exhibit continues April 8 and May 13. Importantly, the tribute to this past Closter mayor, mover, and shaker opens during Women’s History Month.

BY JOHNSNYDER OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

YOUʼREINVITED to help celebrate one of Bergen Countyʼs most remarkable and effective residents and leaders at “Sophie Heymann:Her Life and Legacy,” running Saturday and Sunday, March 11 and 12 from noon to 2 p.m. at Closterʼs historic

Harold Hess Lustron House, 421 Durie Ave.

The exhibit continues April 8 and May 13.

According to Jennifer Rothschild, chair of the Friends of the Lustron Committee and president of the Closter Historic Society, its by design that the tribute to this past Closter mayor (and so much more) opens during Womenʼs His-

T THHAAT T A AHHA A M MOOMMEENNT T

tory Month.

Heymann, who passed at 93 in September 2022, led quite a life, Rothschild told Northern Valley Press on Feb. 28: starting out in Nuremberg, Germany; escaping the Nazis in 1933; spending several years in Dijon, France; and eventually settling in Closter

Continued on page 14

Patrons can expect at the temporary space new books (published in the past six months) plus popular titles and authors; two computers, a printer, and copier for public use; and hold requests: either pick up requested materials and holds or holds may be delivered and picked up at any BCCLS library you choose.

You can continue to drop off returns at 53 Union Ave. Itʼll be checked twice daily. Programs will continue at the recreation center and Sunrise Senior Living of Cresskill.

Occupancy is limited to eight patrons at a time.

But when all is said and done, See LIBRARYon page 16

B ck in time... Bckintime...

The Civil War raged, but West Street in Closter, with its new Dutch Reformed Church, was picture perfect in the winter of 1863.

Four Academy of the Angels students will represent at the 67th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women March 6–17. See page 9

• CLOSTER • CRESSKILL • DEMAREST • ENGLEWOOD • ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS • HARRINGTON PARK HAWORTH • NORTHVALE • NORWOOD • OLD TAPPAN • ROCKLEIGH • TENAFLY

The Chest makes its mark via generations helped

The Chest: 90 years of service

FROM PAGE 1

Center

• JCC Thurnauer School of Music

•Jewish Family and Childrenʼs Services of Northern NJ

•Metropolitan Community Center

•Office of Concern Food Pantry

• Rotary Club of Englewood

•Spectrum for Living

• Tenafly Nature Center

• Vantage Health System

• Volunteer Center of Bergen County

•West Side Infant and Teen Parent Program

• Womenʼs Rights Information Center

The nonprofit agencies will use their grant awards to provide services that meet The Chestʼs priorities in these areas:

•Food insecurity for individuals and families residing in The Community Chestʼs service area;

• Health and mental health services for all populations;

•Education support for programs focusing on social, emotional and developmental learning loss; Programming to enhance preparation for college; and

• Supportive services for special populations or special types of services including senior support and other at-risk populations.

The grant recipients will provide services to residents in need from these communities: Alpine, Bergenfield, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Harrington

Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Rockleigh and Tenafly.

Requests Exceed Funds Available

With a mission to strengthen the community through partnership, leadership and philanthropy, The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County awarded the grants to local nonprofits through a competitive process managed by the organizationʼs Allocations Committee and approved by the Board of Managers.

Throughout the year, funds were raised through an annual campaign and fundraisers to address the escalating needs of residents in eastern Bergen County from COVID-19. The nonprofit agenciesʼrequests reached

Correction

In the February 2023 Northern Valley Press, the acronym in the title of the press release about the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womenʼs Clubs induction ceremony was given incorrectly The correct spelling is “NANBPWC.”

280,000, exceeding the budget for grant awards.

“This year, The Chestʼs Allocation Committee focused specifically on maximizing our finite resources to support the increased demand for services in the priority areas of food insecurity, mental health, social and emotional development, special populations,

The Chest makes possible community action efforts large and small.

Nonprofits get the job done.

AHA flutist Chloe Hahn takes to top seats

Instrumental musician Chloe Hahn of Cresskill has been named principal flutist for the Intermediate Region I Orchestra and second chair flutist for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.

Academy of the Holy Angels Orchestra Director Andrew Monticello reported that Hahn ascended to the top, surpassing 82 other student musicians who auditioned the weekend of Feb. 11–12.

Hahn is a ninth grader at Holy Angels, where she is a member of the Academy Orchestra. She performed with the Bergen County Band earlier this year, and previously earned a seat on the Bergen County Middle School Band.

Her excellent grade point average has kept her on the Princi-

palʼs List since she entered the upper school.

Hahn plays for the junior varsity tennis team, and is a member of the Asian American Cultural Club, Red Cross Club, and MEDS (a group for students interested in

Chloe Hahn’s path to principal flutist began in fourth grade when she first tried to play her chosen instrument.She fell in love…

medical careers).

In December 2022, Hahn entered Tri-M, the Modern Music Masters National Honor Society, which accepts accomplished musicians who also demonstrate scholarship, leadership, and character.

Hahnʼs path to principal flutist began in fourth grade when she first tried to play her chosen instrument. She fell in love.

“I specifically love the flute because of the beautiful sounds it makes,” Hahn said in a press release provided to Northern Valley Press on Feb. 16. She recalled

Free training to tutor ESL

Make a difference in your community —volunteer to teach English as a Second Language.

Since 1982, Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley has been training volunteers to teach English to adults in their community. This online workshop is run by certified trainers and the program is an accredited member of Proliteracy.

Upon completion of the

workshop, LVPV will match each volunteer with an appropriate student.

This workshop is open to residents of Allendale, Cresskill, Dumont, Emerson, Franklin Lakes, Hillsdale, Lodi, Montvale, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, River Vale, Teaneck and Westwood. Tutoring may be remote or in person, depending on your preference.

being intrigued after hearing a flute solo at a live concert.

“I also love how versatile the flute is. From classical to jazz to pop to traditional folk music and to marching band music, the flute is played in many different genres, which makes it such a great instrument to learn,” she said.

Although Hahn does not see herself pursuing a career in music, she expressed an interest in sharing her expertise with younger students.

“In general, I like instrumental music because I and/or listeners get to focus mainly on the sounds the instruments make rather than the main vocals like in lyrical songs,” Hahn said.

She added, “Especially when an orchestra or a band plays a piece with many instruments together, hearing all those instru-

ments playing in harmony to create a beautiful sound/piece is truly amazing. The beauty of the sounds of all the instruments making music together is truly why I enjoy instrumental music.”

Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girlsʼschool in Bergen County. The Academyʼs current leaders continue to further the SSND mission to provide each student with the tools she needs to reach the fullness of her potential—spiritually, intellectually, socially, andphysically, by offering a first-rate education in a nurturing environment where equal importance is placed on academic excellence, character development, moral integrity, and service to others.

Literacy Volunteers of Pascack Valley is pleased to announce the next online four-session Tutor Training Workshop on April 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Volunteers must be 18 or older. Contact Marilyn Katz or Cheryl Chang at literacyvolunteerspv@gmail.com to register. You may also register at literacyvolunteerspv.org/tutor-training-workshopform.html.

SHARE YOUR VINTAGE PHOTOS

NORTHERN VALLEY

Those old black and white photos have been sitting in the drawer for decades. Give those treasures more love by sharing them with your neighbors on this page.

Northern Valley Press welcomes old photographs depicting scenes in any of the towns in the region: Alpine, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Harrington Park, Haworth, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Rockleigh and Tenafly.

Specifically, we’re looking for materials dating to the 1970s and earlier. These can be photos of local buildings, notable people, homes, streets, parks, stores, special events — you name it. Old advertisements for businesses in the Northern Valley are also most welcome.

The submissions are sought for publication in the weekly “Back in Time” local history feature, which appears to the right of this column.

Photographs can be submitted by scanning the photo or taking a good digital photo (the highest resolution possible to facilitate clear printing) and emailing a copy of the photographs along with some detailed information to northernvalleypress@thepressgroup.net

FOR MORE INFORMATION

CALL (201) 358-9500

G Geet t t thhe e R Reessuulltts s

To place your service ad, call 201-358-9500.

Bckintime... Bckintime...

160-year-old scene on West Street

BY KRISTIN BEUSCHER FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

THE UNITED STATES was embroiled in the Civil War, but West Street in Closter presented a tranquil scene in this photograph taken in the winter of 1863.

On the right side of the photo is the Dutch Reformed Church, which stands in the same location today At the time, the house on the left was occupied by church leader Reverend Hammond. Later the Eckerson family would live there. The farmhouse, constructed in the Gothic Revival style with sawtooth trim on its eaves and above the porch, was torn down in the 20th century. St. Maryʼs School now occupies this site. The fence running between the house and church would be High Street today

The church, at 328 West St., was built only one year before this photo was taken. Constructed from 1861–1862, the church had a congregation numbering just 15 people at the time—names familiar in the annals of Closter history, like Demarest, Blauvelt, Ruckman, and Durie.

It was the first church built within present-day Closter, which at the time was just a neighborhood within Harrington Township. Until that time the nearest churches were in Dumont and Tappan—not very far by modern standards, but think about making the trip in January with a horse and wagon.

The architect of the church was John H. Stephens, a man who would have been known to everyone in the tight-knit village at the time. The native New Yorker had settled in Closter and opened up a general store in 1857. He was also the postmaster and the first railroad station agent in town.

It was an era when great change was on

the horizon for this region. On May 26, 1859, the first train on the Northern Railroad line came down from Piermont, N.Y., southbound

toward Jersey City. Englewood and Closter were the Northern Valleyʼs first local stops on

A snowy scene on West Street in Closter from winter 1863. The Reformed Church was only a year old. The house has been replaced by St. Mary’s School.

The Reformed Church of Closter as it looks today.

Arrest over criminal sexual contact with minor

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrest of Jeisson Murillo-Beltran, 30, single; a stock clerk living here, on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.

The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by the B ergen County Prosecutorʼs

TENAFLY

Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love and the Englewood P olice Department under the direction of Chief Tom Greeley.

On Saturday, Feb. 18 the E nglewood Police Department c ontacted the Bergen County Prosecutorʼs Office Special Victims Unit regarding the alleged sexual assault of a child. An inves-

MUSICPROGRAMSET FOR MARCH 12

Church of the Atonement invites you to its annual Lenten Meditations program on Sunday, March 12 at 5:30 p.m.

This yearʼs theme, Nature and Spirit, includes readings and musical selections based on the theme of Creation.

Musical selections include the Poulencʼs Sonata for oboe and piano, John Irelandʼs “The Lent Lily,” “Whereʼer You Walk” by G.F. Handel, Aaron Copelandʼs “Nature, the Gentlest Mother,” and “By Thee With Bliss” from Haydnʼs The Creation, and more. Musicians include Robert LeClair, oboe, and soprano Janine Colletti, mezzo soprano Giulia Utz, tenor Jeffrey Broadhurst, and baritone Clyde Crewey, accompanied by music director Brian Schober

Readings will be chosen and read by the Revs. Lynne and Dean Weber.

A free-will offering may be given at the door. The next major arts event at Atonement is its 12th Annual Arts and Music Festival, May 17–24, which includes the opening of the nonjuried community art exhibit with a festive reception on Wednesday, May 17; Variety Night with music and kidʼs Improv on Friday, May 19; Arts & Music Sunday, May 21; Open Mic Poetry Night on Tuesday, May 23; and a Wind Quintet Concert closing the festival and art exhibit on Wednesday, May 24.

Church of the Atonement is at 97 Highwood Ave. at Engle Street in Tenafly.For more information about the churchʼs ministries, music program, and arts festival — including information about artwork submissions for the festival show — contact Tom in the parish office at (201) 5681763 or at parish.admin@atonementtenafly.org,or visit atonementtenafly.org.

tigation by the Bergen County Prosecutorʼs Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed t hat the defendant sexually assaulted the child, who was 14 years old or younger, in Englewood.

As a result of the investigation, on Sunday, Feb. 19 the defen-

dant was charged with thirddegree endangering the welfare of a child, N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4a(1); and fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3b.

He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack.

Musella noted that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Musella thanked the Englewood Police Department for its assistance in this investigation

The Chest: 90th

FROM PAGE 2

and educational support. Agencies that provide services to people in need in our region, especially in the

areas of food insecurity and mental health, were prioritized,” said Dr.

Shelly Wimpfheimer, executive director, The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County.

Expanding on the occasion of the organizationʼs 90th, Wimpfheimer wrote online, “Not many organizations can boast a record of this type of service! We have been able to survive because of the generous support of donors in our community.”

She said, “Back in 1933 our country was in the throes of The

Great Depression and our community leaders were struggling to find ways to ease the burden on citizens and organizations in need. There were fewer nonprofits then and our community composition was very different, but the social conditions were dire and many needed help with staying afloat. Our wise community leaders sought a solution to

the problem and founded The Community Chest as a way of helping neighbors survive.”

She added, “The first five nonprofits that we funded were Englewood Hospital, Bergen Family Center (then called Memorial House, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and Salvation Army.”

Since then, she said, “We have raised more than $12 million and supported more than 100 additional organizations, providing all kinds of services to our community.”

In 2019 The Chest expanded its service area to include more towns in Eastern Bergen County. It now serve Alpine, Bergenfield, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Englewood, Englewood Cliffs, Haworth, Harrington Park, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Old Tappan, Rockleigh and Tenafly.

“Residents from each of these towns receive services from the nonprofits funded by The Community Chest. Each year we ask them to help us continue with supporting our neighbors. They always help,” said Wimpfheimer.

She noted that “Throughout the 90 years of our existence there have been many challenges in our community. In the last several years we have dealt with the horrors of the COVID pandemic and in 2021 we struggled with the devastation brought about by Hurricane Ida. There is no predicting what will happen in our community each year, but we are here to help when trouble arises.”

Wimpfheimer said, “We are honored to be a member of a community that cares. We thank all of you that have helped us respond to the many challenges that have befallen us over the last nine decades, and we hope we can count on you to stand tall with us to mount the challenges of the future.”

For more information about The Chest or to make a contribution, visit www.communitychestofenglewood.org or contact (201) 568-7474. Stay updated about the organizationʼs activities on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

West Side Infant and Teen Parent Program, a grant recipient of The Community Chest of Eastern Bergen County, provides care giving, health, and nutrition skills for parents to support their children. Photo credit: West Side Infant and Teen Parent Program.

ROBERT KATZ OWNER

THEIR

BY HILLARY VIDERS FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

IS THE MESSAGE

Acute Inflections performs a Tribute to Black History

In honor of Black History Month, on February 19, the Englewood Public Library presented a concert by the popular musical duo Acute Inflections entitled, “A Change Is Gonna Come:” An Inspirational Musical Voyage.

Like many of the Englewood libraryʼs special events, it was free and open to the public.

The concert, attended by dozens of Englewood residents and guests, showcased the New York Jazzy R & B vocalist Elasea Douglas and bass player Sadiki Pierre. The famed duo have performed all over the world and have opened shows for Sting, Jennifer Hudson, and DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Elasea Douglas is a gifted singer, songwriter, dancer and actress. She first started singing in church as a young child. When she was a little older, she sang in her schoolsʼglee clubs, choruses and musicals.

In her teenage years, she attended Bayside High School Academy of Music where she primarily received classical vocal training.

During this time, Douglas was also heavily involved in dance and theatre, in addition to being introduced to jazz. So, she double majored in dance and theatre at Hunter College while she still continued singing with worship groups throughout the country.

After graduating from Hunter College, Douglas performed in several Off-Broadway shows, including

“Dreamgirls,” and she performed a one-woman show called “A Role Once Played.”

She made her Broadway debut as part of the original cast of the Tony Award winning show, “FELA!”

After that, she was advised to

channel her creativity into her own art so she began working with producers and writing and recording her own music. She performed jazzy and soul stirring originals at numerous venues, including The Knitting Factory, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Cafe Wha?, Iridium Jazz Club and Groove Cafe.

Sadiki Pierre is a talented upright bass player who plays and fuses many styles of music, including

classical, jazz, Latin, reggae and R&B.

He was chosen to perform with the New York State School Music Associationʼs All-State Orchestra in addition to performing with another

York Philharmonic.

Sadikiʼs focus on classical music inadvertently created a longing for musical freedom that drove him to study and master jazz. Since then, heʼs performed at numerous jazz

With

With

With

Acute Inflections Duo Sadiki Pierre and Alesea Douglas.

CHURCH OF THE ATONEMENT

EPISCOPAL – 97 Highwood Ave., Tenafly 201-568-1763 – www.atonement-tenafly.org

MARCH 12 - MEDITATIONS - NATURE & SPIRIT

5:30 pm Music of Poulenc,Ireland,Copeland, Haydn,Handel,and more,with Readings.

APRIL2 - PALM SUNDAY

9:45 am Blessing of Palms & Procession,Worship

Pergolesi's Stabat Mater - Selected movements

APRIL 7 - GOOD FRIDAY

1:00pmEcumenical Walk

5:00pm Family Service 8:00pm Solemn Liturgy

APRIL 8 - HOLY SATURDAY

8:00pmGreat Vigil of Easter and Eucharist with Choir, Soloists and Brass

APRIL 9 - EASTER SUNDAY

10:00amWorship with Choir,Soloists and Brass Egg Hunt on the lawn after the service.

MAY 17-24 - 12TH ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Community art exhibit, music,and poetry events

Church School and Confirmation Class on most Sundays

“Over 150 years of Faith, Love, and Service”

Grow with Scouting BSA in Haworth

Thereʼs an exciting Scouting BSA program in Haworth. Scouts BSA includes Cubs (open to boys and girls grades K–5) and Scouts (boys and girls ages 11–17). Cub Pack 373 and Scout Troop 73 are based in Haworth, with Troop 73 being in continuous operation for almost 100 years.

Greg Holden of the Scout Troop 73 Committee tells Northern Valley Press the Cub Pack has 12 youngsters now, and there are 18 registered in the Scout Troop. The Cub Pack meets once a month and has regular activities

such as hikes at Camp Alpine, and the world famous Pinewood Derby model car race.

The scout troop meets the first three Thursdays of the month at the Haworth Firehouse on Hardenburgh Ave. at 7:30 p.m.

The scout troop has regular campouts, hikes and outdoor activities, community service projects (including many across Haworth for prestigious Eagle Scout rank), and merit badge life skills programs, and attends an awesome summer camp near the Delaware Water Gap.

“Scouting is a great program for youngsters focusing on strong Scouting values (like Do a Good Deed Daily), and provides unique leadership opportunities for young people. Itʼs also just plain fun, and a natural way to meet others and make new friends,” Holden says.

For information about Cub Pack 373, contact Rob Deutsch at rdmgmt@optonline.net. For information about Scout Troop 73, contact Keith Kolkebeck at kolkebeck@yahoo.com or Steve Jureller at ssjureller@gmail.com

Scouting out friends, fun! For information about Cub Pack 373, contact Rob Deutsch at rdmgmt@optonline.net. For information about Scout Troop 73, contact Keith Kolkebeck at kolkebeck@yahoo.com or Steve Jureller at ssjureller@gmail.com. Photo via Greg Holden.

The elite connection between the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the United Nations will allow four Academy of the Angels students to represent the SSNDs at the 67th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women March 6–17.

This yearʼs priority theme is i nnovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

As an accredited non-governmental organization, the SSNDs hold a U.N. seat, and may invite individuals from their sponsored schools, including AHA, to U.N. events.

Sister Beatriz Martinez-Garcia, SSND, director of the SSND UN-NGO office, is facilitating this yearʼs visit for AHA seniors Caroline Dupas of Pearl River, NY, and Hannah Janiec of East R utherford; and juniors Mia (Aiko) Chang of Valley Cottage, NY, and Alexandra Valdez of Oakland.

AHA attended CSW in 2017 and 2014, when four Angels made a formal presentation on human trafficking.

Chaperones are history teacher Jennifer Cucchisi and AHA Director of Mission & Ministry Joan Connelly.

“The charism of the SSND community calls us as educators to respond to urgent needs, especially of the poor, and to educate with a world vision,” Connelly told Northern Valley Press “Whenever we can offer our students the chance to participate in an international event such as this, I believe it helps us to fulfill our mission as an SSND school and to form studentsʼperspective on issues regarding human rights and humandignity.It is in keeping with the message of the gospel to build the reign of God.”

According to uncomen.org , CSW is “the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.” Established in 1946, CSW is a commission of the Economic and Social Council.

CSW promotes womenʼs rights, documents the lives of women around the world, and shapes global standards on gender equality and womenʼs empowerment.

The CSW first met in Lake Success, N.Y. in 1947.

The delegates

AHA delegate Hannah Janiec told Northern Valley Press, “As a woman myself, there have been countless situations where I have felt undermined and ignored. Thankfully, Holy Angels has fostered a comfortable, efficient learning environment for me to prosper,but middle school was a different story for me. As a result, I always seek opportunities to advocate for women and other marginalized communities such as people of color, the disabled, et al.

I believe this conference is an amazing opportunity tolearn how to be a catalystfor change against feminineinferiorityand how I can do my part in eliminating this global issue.”

She added, “As I graduate

from Holy Angels this year, I plan to major in psychology with a minor in linguistics on the path of attending graduate school to gain my Ph.D. and become a speech pathologist for disabled minority youth.”

Caroline Dupas said sheʼs always wanted to be an international legislator or lawyer, “and hearing the authentic experiences of individuals, especially women, w ill inform my passion and inspire me to pursue change. Iʼm excited to meet thousands of individuals hugely important in the pursuit of womenʼs rights worldwide and have meaningful exchanges with them that shape my interest in global affairs.”

She said, “After attending the U.N. Day of the Girl, Iʼve been inspired by the uplifting, international collaboration and compassion I witnessed at the U.N. — a place it would be a dream to work at in the future, and was hopeful to r eceive the opportunity to go again.”

She added, “Even during a one-day event, last time at the UN we listened to so many powerful, global voices of women and were taught to see every issue from all different perspectives, which will be important for me as I pursue human rights and global affairs and hopefully become a global legislator.”

Dupas, who is co-president of Model U.N. at Holy Angels, is using her first experience at the UN to train the Academyʼs dele-

gates to “debate issues in more nuanced, empathetic ways, and realize that Model U.N. is more than a simulation: It represents real issues and real life.”

M ia (Aiko) Chang and A lexandra Valdez were also inspired to return to the U.N. after attending the 2022 UN International Day of the Girl.

Chang said, “The overall mission of the Commission on the Status of Women of promoti ng gender equality and the empowerment of women is something that is incredibly important and relevant to our world, and I am interested in seeing how such a large international organization like the U.N. is working to address and act upon womenʼs issues stemming from various nations.”

She said,. “I feel like it will be very beneficial for me to attend since I can use this opportunity to further my knowledge on specific global womenʼs issues and what is being done to act upon them.”

Valdez recalled meeting two women from Africa at the U.N. International Day of the Girl. “They traveled so far to continue

Front to back,left to right: chaperones Jennifer Cucchisi and Joan Connelly, and students Mia (Aiko) Chang,Alexandra Valdez,Caroline Dupas,and Hannah Janiec. AHA photo

WORKSHOP TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BY HILLARY VIDERS FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

The aroma of great Southern cooking is unmistakable, and there was plenty of it at the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood on. On Feb. 11. In tribute to Black History Month, the church held its 6th annual Southern Cooking Workshop hosted by Reverend Richard Hong and Felicia Arrigoitia, the churchʼs Director of Family Ministries.

This yearʼs appetizing event featured Chef Tia Jackson of TJʼs Southern Food guided the preparations with great skill and pizazz.

Jackson began by welcoming 120 church goers and guests of all ages as they gathered around various tables to learn how to make macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, barbecued chicken, banana pudding, cornbread, and candied

yams with the help of close to a dozen volunteers.

Even the children played a role in the food fest by whipping tubs of butter to spread on the cornbread and Southern biscuits,

while the youngest children had fun in the Activities/Craft area that was supervised by Carol Schulzrinne and Jennifer Elroy. After the prepared plates of food were brought to the kitchen to be cooked, Jackson continued to

delight everyone with a demonstration of her bonus dessert of rice/peach cobbler.

Visitors sat at several long fellowship tables as they ate their delicious food and socialized with mile high smiles.

To accompany the dinner, ice tea, lemonade, hibiscus tea and water was served by Sherronda Brown.

This yearʼs Southern Cook-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Chef Tia Jackson (in front row) showed how to make Southern biscuits.

Chef Tia Jackson welcomed visitors and guided the food preparations.

gathered around a host of tables to prepare food

With St. Patrickʼs Day around the corner, our intrepid columnist investigates some of her longheld beliefs, her confidence restored by an Irish gastropub just next door.

WITHANAME like Tara McCann I was raised to love everything Irish. Shamrocks, Celtic symbols, claddagh rings... you name it, I had it. I even suffered the “Celtic fair complexion” (which in my mind was the pasty, way-toowhite skin that turns lobster- red even with SPF 100 slathered all over).

So though it was my grandparents who came to America from the Emerald Isle, when it comes to St. Patrickʼs Day I consider myself 100% Irish. Erin go Bragh.

And thatʼs when it hits me. For decades I have been saying Erin go Bragh, but do I really know what it means? Actually, do I really know what any of the Irish traditions mean, or have I just grown up accepting them as fact without questioning anything? It was time to find out.

A quick search for the meaning of Erin go Bragh tells me that it translates to “Ireland to the end of time.” So I have given Ireland many well wishes for an incredibly long life without even realizing. Now my curiosity is piqued. Why green? What about shamrocks? And really, who is St. Patrick, after all?

Green has never been my best color on my “Celtic fair complexion.” But you wonʼt catch me without wearing it on the 17th. Iʼm curious how the tradition started. Research shows that while some consider it a token of good luck, and others wear it to honor their Irish ancestry, it is really to save us... from the leprechauns? The story goes that these devilish rascals like to pinch anyone they see... but theyʼre blind to the color green. Wear that color, and youʼre incognito. And, whew, does that give me such a sense of relief!

Meanwhile, every year, my granddad and I exchanged shamrock plants. I would immediately search for that rare, lucky, fourleaf clover. I donʼt recall ever coming across one (maybe that explains parts of my life...). But now Iʼve learned that the three leaf clover was the one that St. Patrick used in his teachings. For him, each leaf represented one Being of the Divinity

St. Patrick wasnʼt even the first priest to use the plants. Celtic priests, known as Druids, carried them as well in the belief that with the plantʼs help, they could see evil spirits approaching in time to escape. Hmm... so if I wear green, and carry around a shamrock plant all day on St. Patrickʼs Day, I can basically rest assured that Iʼm wearing a coat of armor

Now the big question: Who really was St. Patrick? My beliefs continue to nosedive when I dis-

Hidden Gems

By Tara McCann

cover St. Patrick wasnʼt even Irish! Born in England around 390 A.D. to an aristocratic family, he had no interest in religion as a youngster. Then, at 16, he was kidnapped and sent overseas to tend sheep in Ireland for seven years.

There, Patrick found religion. A voice came to him in his dreams, telling him to escape.

Folklore is that he returned home on a pirate ship and reunited with his family, but then the voice told him to return to Ireland. There, he was ordained a priest and spent his life trying to convert the Irish to Christianity. He lived an extreme-

ly difficult life, often attacked by thugs and harassed by both British and Irish royalty. He died on March 17, 461 AD and was largely forgotten. But then slowly, Patrickʼs life became a tale of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

The author’s daughter Sadie embarks on lamb shepherd’s pie.

The Tenafly Nature Center teaches how maple syrup is made

BY HILLARY VIDERS FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

On February 5, the Tenafly Nature Center (TNC) on Hudson Avenue presented one of its most popular seasonal programs –“Maple Sugaring.” The TNC has been open for the past 60 years, and for several decades this sweet program has always attracted people of all ages.

“Both of our sessions, morning and afternoon, are sold out,” said Cabell Neterer, the Centerʼs Scout and Programs Coordinator.

At 11:45, two dozen children and their parents were seated in the John Redfield building next to the Visitorʼs Center, where they learned fascinating facts about maple syrup.

“Maple syrup is extremely expensive because producing sap requires ideal weather conditions and it takes 40 gallons of sap to

make just one gallon of maple syrup. At $40 a gallon, maple syrup is one of the most expensive liquids you can buy in the United States,” Neterer said. “Itʼs more expensive than gasoline or perfume. So much so, that the biggest robbery in Canadian history was from the Canadian Maple Syrup Reserve, a heist worth 18 million dollars!”

Neterer gave each participant a cookie that looked like a slice of a maple tree to explain how to tell the treeʼs age by its rings.

Neterer then explained the steps in maple syrup making and how technology has changed the way and the tools that are used to collect sap over the centuries.

Outside, the building, Neterer took the group around the wooded area where he had children identify which of the trees were sugar maple trees by the direction in which their branches were growing. He then guided each child with

a tool to drill a hole in a maple tree to demonstrate how the sap is reached.

He showed the group the Tenafly Nature Center's tapped tree with a tube and bucket attached to it and explained how the boiled down sap is used to make fresh, warm maple syrup.

The program finished with Neterer distributing maple syrup sticks, a sweet treat for all to taste.

In addition to “Maple Sugaring,” the Tenafly Nature Center offers programs and special events all year long. Some of these are: “Nature Story Time,” “Nature Adventures Puppet Show,” “Spring Equinox Night Hike and Campfire,” “Seasonal Scavenger Hunt,” and “Crafty Critters.”

The TNC also offers summer camps and after school programs.

This year, there will also be canoeing in the lake, guided educational sailings on the Clearwater

sloop from the Alpine Boat Basin and the 12th Annual Lost Brook Trail Race.

Note: For a list of programs,

camps and membership options, go to tenaflync.org.

Photos by Hillary Viders

Cabell Neterer, the Tenafly Nature Center’s Scout and Programs Coordinator, explained how maple syrup is made.

Jack-in-the-Pulpitvaseis‘superb,rare’

Dear Jon, I inherited this glass vase from my grandmother over 40 years ago. It is beautiful when the light illuminates through it. It measures 18 inches in height and is in excellent condition. It has faint writing on the bottom that I can not read. Could you please tell me how old it it and what it might be worth?

ASK THE APPRAISER BYJONFELZ

With Stephen

“LCT” denotes it’s a Tiffany.

Only $65 For 3 Months

Curious

Dear Curious, Pop the Champagne! The item you are inquiring about is an art glass Jack-in-the-Pulpit vase produced during the Art Nouveau period. The marking on the base; “LCT” is for Louis Comfort Tiffany. Yes that Tiffany! What you have is a superb and rare “Jack-inthe-Pulpit” flower form Favrile glass vase, circa 1904–1906.

Favrile glass was invented by Louis Comfort Tiffany (18481933), in the late 19th century. This iridescent art glass has the actual colors incised within. Tiffany was awarded the grand prize for Favrile glass at the Paris Expo-

sition of 1900. The typical size of Tiffany Jack-in-the-Pulpit vases we encounter is 10–14 inches in height. Your vase, measuring 18 inches in height, is even rarer. Bigger is better

Now the answer youʼve been waiting for — the value. If in fact this item is in excellent condition —no chips, cracks, repairs, or

damage (thatʼs very important, undamaged) — the current replacement value for your Tiffany Jack-in-the-Pulpit Favrile glass vase is $10,000 to $12,000. A word of caution: Handle this vase with the utmost care. One tiny chip or crack will devalue this extraordinary piece of art glass tremendously.

Thank you for sharing this item with us.

Now itʼs your turn! Senior appraiser Jon Felz of RZM Fine Arts & Antiques Inc. answers Pascack Press readersʼ questions on fine art, American coins, and great antiques. Send yours to rzmantique@aol.com. RZM Fine Arts & Antiques Inc is based at 132 Dexter Ave., Pearl River, N.Y. Call (845) 735-1313 or visit rzmantiques.com.

This is a 45 minute weight class - bring your own 5lb. weights. Come and join us for Men’s Fitness training! Maintain your current body strength, improve your flexibility and balance for better overall health. No time better than now to feel the best you can!

N NOORRTTHHEERRN N V VAALLLLEEY

S welcomes press releases,birth announcements, wedding announcements and event photographs from all towns in the Northern Valley. Send all news to northernvalleypress@thepressgroup.net

“What you have is a superb and rare Jack-in-the-Pulpit” flower form Favrile glass vase, circa 1904–1906.”

Y P PRREESSS

Home:

FROM PAGE 1

We covered the news when Heymann passed, in part quoting Mayor John Glidden:

“Sophie, as many of you may know, voluntarily served the Borough of Closter for decades, inclusive of holding office as a three-term councilwoman and as a two-term mayor.”

He said, “Throughout the years, Sophie selflessly donated an incredible amount of time as an active member of numerous boards, commissions, committees and civic organizations. Her vitality and significant contributions for the betterment of Closter spearheaded many of the projects and amenities Closterʼs residents enjoy today.”

Councilwoman Victoria Amitai said Heymann was able to “utilize her skills and knowledge in every way imaginable, cultivating a family of four children, cultivating MacBain Farm, cultivating the Borough of Closter and beyond.”

Rothschild added for Northern Valley Press, “She was a supporter of the nature center, the Closter trail system; she was involved in other things, including the League of

Women Voters — so weʼre honoring her life.”

Rothschild said every room in the historic Lustron House will reflect an aspect of Heymannʼs inspiring story:the childrenʼs room will reflect her childhood; the master bedroom will be about her family and marriage; the living room will be about her political and professional life.

Thereʼll be a wall devoted to how Heymann saved the Lustron House from demolition.

“Weʼre going to talk about her cooking and baking in the kitchen,” said Rothschild.

She said, “She was a big part of the community, involved in virtually every aspect of the community life of Closter and Bergen County.”

She said, “She was a member of the Republican Party … because she never forgave F.D.R. for not entering World War IIsooner, to save families like hers.”

And she said, “We have a picture of her with [former New Jersey Gov.] Chris Christie on display in the Lustron House, and we have a map showing where she fled in Europe, and beautiful pictures from her childhood, then as a young adult, and then in Closter, with all the initiatives she was part of and led.”

Rothschild recalled that Heymann was active here right up to the end, when she took a bad fall at

home.

“She was weeding gardens at MacBain Farm and showing up every month at the Lustron, usually in period dress,” she said.

Rothschild described Heymann as “an unbelievable force of nature. She used to walk to work about a mile, with a backpack. She would walk from her home to Borough Hall when she was mayor. She

redecorated Borough Hall and sewed curtains for all the windows. You can still see some examples when you go there.”

She said she hopes visitors enjoy the exhibit. “Itʼs on every wall, and people really do love Sophie.”

ʻExceptional leadershipʼ

In the narrative for Heymannʼs nomination for her 2016 Bergen

County Historic Preservation Award, Rothschild wrote that even before her tenure as a public figure in Closter, Heymann supported the restoration of the Dutch sandstone house where the Englewood Red Cross was headquartered while she was vice president of that organization in the early 1990s.

“Sophie Heymann has shown exceptional leadership in historic preservation throughout her seventeen years in office in Closter. She served nine years as a Councilwoman and eight years as mayor.

“It was during her tenure on the Council that Closterʼs Historic Preservation Ordinance was written. Since that first ordinance was passed in 1998, the law was strengthened in 2001, and to date, 16 individual buildings and one historic district, consisting of 28 properties, have been designated in the Borough of Closter.

“Every designated site and district in Closter owes much of its success to the support of Sophie Heymann,” Rothschild said.

In addition to her role in providing Closter with the means to landmark its historic properties, said Rothschild, “Heymann has shown initiative and ingenuity in other ways to save historic sites and structures, and she has excelled in educating and involving the public in the celebration of Closterʼs history.”

Around 2004: Early champions of the Lustron include, from left to right: owner Dennis Hess, Doug Radick (architect), Pat Morillo (borough historian and chair of the Closter Historic Preservation Commission),then-Councilwoman Sophie Heymann, then-Mayor Fred Pitofsky, and then-Councilman Michael Hochron. The blue Bergen County Historical Society marker had just been installed. Via Friends of The Hess Lustron House.

Acute Inflections:

FROM PAGE 7

collaborating together for the past 10 years, and they will soon be on a European gig in Sicily.

The Duo Delighted Englewood Residents at the Englewood Library concert on February 19, the New York Jazzy R & B duo presented a medley of songs with the uplifting theme of “A Change Is Gonna Come.” They performed their soulful renditions of songs from well-known artists, including Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, and Childish Gambino.

The audience was delighted to hear a score of favorites numbers, such as “All of Me,” “Redbone,” “Whatʼs Going on and Mercy Mercy,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Rise Up” and “Ainʼt No Mountain High Enough,” as well as two of the duoʼs original songs, “Le Go Remix” and “Only Together.”

As much as they enjoying performing for a large audience, Douglas and Sadiki also find small venues like the Englewood library very rewarding. “Itʼs much more intimate and we get to meet people that we would not normally be

HARRINGTON PARK

Get in on these Club 60 trips

Club 60 of Harrington Park has begun announcing its trips for 2023. Trips are open to all seniors.

•March 14: St Paddyʼs Day luncheon and show by Mike Burns at The Shore Club (formerly Doolanʼs). Members $70, guests $80.

• April 26: The musical “Million Dollar Quartet” at The Hunterdon Playhouse. Show and luncheon cost for members and guests is $86.

For more information, call Phyllis at (201) 768-5753 or Mary Ann at (201) 497-8671.

exposed to. We really connect with people here,” Douglas said. During their presentation, Douglas and Sadiki also discussed and musicʼs role in Black History and how they encourage people to fight for equality and freedom.

Douglas explained, “But, itʼs not just about black slavery. Many people have gone through a lot of trauma, and we have to understand our past and learn how to manage our lives in the present.

Social media often slants peopleʼs perception of events. It can censor you and it complicates our ability to communicate with each other personally.

Sadiki added, “A Change is Gonna Come” refers to changes that all people need to make. The change we hope to inspire refers to how we treat each other, respect each other and love each other.”

Photo by Hillary Viders

Library: Moving to a temporary new home

FROM PAGE 1

the renovations mean enclosed spaces for children and young

adults; ADA-compliant restrooms; structural repairs to the floor; electrical and lighting upgrades and

new flooring and fresh paint throughout the building; and new heating, ventilation, and air condi-

tioning.

Bids were requested on an $1,181,550 estimate advertising the complete renovation and interior alteration of the existing Cresskill Public Library, including furnishing all labor, materials, and equipment necessary to complete the project in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared by Lothrop Associates LLP and as

directed by the Library.

The work of this project shall be completed no later than March 20, 2024.

Work will include architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and fire alarm system modifications, repairs, or alterations.

Beuscher: West St.

FROM PAGE 4

the line. With that, the sparsely populated farming village of Closter was linked with the outside world. New houses went up, more people came to town, and many local institutions saw their beginnings in the years that followed. The snowy photo on this page speaks to the hardships encountered in building the church. The congregants worked through the bitterly cold winter of 1861-1862 constructing framework, only to have a windstorm blow it down in the spring. The volunteers squared their shoulders and began anew,

working in their spare time to build the church that is still standing 160 years later.

In her book “Images of America: Closter and Alpine,” author Patricia Garbe-Morillo writes, “On the eve of the construction of this church in 1861, Abraham Lincoln was drafting 10,500 New Jersey boys into service for the Civil War. The Harrington Rifles, a volunteer company drill team organized in 1861, practiced in the church during the war. Two town members of the company, Garret I. Demarest and David Bogert, were Civil War casualties.”

— Staff report ADVERTISE YOUR

bergenPAC to celebrate high school musicals

NewMove over Tonys, a new award show is taking centerstage this Spring. The inaugural bergenPAC High School Musical Awards will celebrate outstanding performances

from schools across the region.

“At bergenPAC we want to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of all students in the northern New Jersey r egion,” bergenPAC Executive

Director Alexander Diaz said. “ The stars of tomorrow will s hine brightly on our stage today.”

The ceremony will be held at bergenPAC on May 22 and feature select live student performances.

Schools or individual students can register to participate in the awards program. bergenPACʼs professional faculty will attend their performance and provide feedback to help the students develop as artists. Partici-

pants will then be considered for nominations at the awards ceremony.

Diaz directs The Performing Arts School at bergenPACʼs annual summer musical, which draws teens from across the region to fill the acting and production roles. Its 2017 West Side Story production starred Clifton native Rachel Zegler as “Maria.” Steven Spielberg later picked her to reprise the role in his 2021 film remake.

bergenPAC summer musical

alumni have also gone on to appear in TV shows like Orange is the New Black and attend top musical theater programs, including NYUʼs Tisch School of the Arts and Montclair State University.

For detailed information on t he registration process, visit https://www.bergenpac.org/education-1/pasoutreach or email outreach@bergenpac.org.

bergenPAC is at 30 North Van Brunt St. Call (201) 2271030 and visit bergenpac.org

AHA: Students represent

FROM PAGE 9

to advocate for rights in their c ountrythat we already have here,” she said. “It made me very thankful for the rights that I have, and it also made me interested in the topic of international womenʼs rights as a whole.

CLOSTER

She said, “I think that itʼs incredibly sad that, while women in America have made a lot of progress in gaining equality over the years, there are millions of women around the world who are still struggling…I want to see what the leaders of our world are doing to address this issue.”

Valdez is interested in politics, international relations, and journalism. She is considering options for careers, and said “My dream is to work for ʻNational Geographicʼand travel the world writing about different cultures and their histories.”

Mayor’s Committee for the Arts

The Mayorʼs Committee for the Arts, overseen by the Improvement Commission, is excited to announce the following pop-up performances: •Saturday, April 1: Understaffed, Elliot Roman.

• Saturday, May 6: CJC Music School, Sung Chung.

All performances are in the Community Room at the Closter Public Library at 2 p.m.

BlackHistoryMonthHealthFairpromoteswellness

BY HILLARY VIDERS FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

In recognition of Black History Month, the NAACP Bergen County Chapter in conjunction with Englewood Health and New Bridge Medical Center, hosted its 3rd annual Black History Month Health Fair at the Dr. John Grieco School in Englewood.

County Chapter President Jeff Carter and Joellen Bough, followed by a soulful rendition of the Negro/ Black National Anthem by Kia Miller.

Numerous hospital doctors and nurses joined the crowd of show attendees that included NJ Congressman Josh Gottheimer, Bergen County Commissioners Mary Amaroso and Tom Sullivan, Engle-

health fair was a series of wellness lectures given by doctors from New Bridge Medical Center, Pascack Medical Center and Englewood Health.

The topics were of particular interest to the African American community, since statistics show that 2 out of 3 African Americans have high blood pressure, young African-American women are three

“We have a problem in our country where many African Americans do not go to the hospital because of all the issues that have happened there in the past. Thatʼs why it is important that we have African American doctors and we have testing and shots that make people feel comfortable in this environment and those

that need help will seek treatment.”

This yearʼs Black History Month Health Fair was a huge success. Everyone agreed that it provided a wealth of wellness information as well as a great time.

by Hillary Viders

Several other medical facilities, including Holy Name Medical and Pascack Valley Medical Center, also had tables set up with experts to greet visitors and give health advice.

On February 11h, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, hundreds of people poured into the Grieco school to learn about wellness and get screening and healthy food.

The program began with welcome remarks by NAACP Bergen

wood Councilman Charles Cobb, and former Council Members Wayne Hamer and Kathryn Glynn.

The expansive auditorium was filled with displays by dozens of organizations and several African American sororities and fraternities.

Visitors walked around where they could be given free blood pressure tests, diabetes and cholesterol assessments.

An important element in the

times as likely to die from breast cancer as young Caucasian women, and African Americans are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.

There was also information about Black womenʼs maternal health, weight loss and mental health and a plant-based food presentation by Chef Brandi.

Jeff Carter said that Black History Month Health Fairs are essential.

Photos

Links, Inc. staff members were smiling and giving out information and healthy snacks

S Sc c h

AHA Kids Flourish in Scholastic Art &Writing Competition

Expressive artists and creative wordsmiths from the Academy of the Holy Angels, including one middle school student, fared exceptionally well in the regional leg of the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Competition.

In total, Angelsʼaccolades include a nomination for an American Voices Award, 11 Gold Keys (nine in art, two in writing), 18 Silver Keys (12 in art, six in writing), and 27 Honorable Mentions (20 in art, seven in writing).

AHAʼs American Voices Award nominee and Gold Key winners will continue on to the national competition, where their work will be matched against other elite teen honorees.

Artist Jiayi “Stella” Ouyang, who won a 2021 National Gold

Medal for her exceptional work in film and animation, is one of just five teens in the region to be nominated for an American Visions Award.

Ouyang was recognized for

“We All Deserve a Home,” the drawing/illustration for which she earned one of four Gold Keys. American Visions Award nominees must have a Gold Key-winning work that expresses an original voice or vision. Ouyangʼs evocative drawing features a large

hand gently cradling a small home with a blue roof and yellow sides above a crumbling city.

“I created ʻWe All Deserve a Homeʼin 2022 when the Russian Ukraine War first started,” Ouyang said. “The piece is inspired by my hope for world peace, but especially for the Ukrainians. The

— Artists — Sungmin Park of Cresskill Gold Key, Silver Key

Rachelle Wu of Harrington Park 2 Gold Keys, Silver Key, Honorable Mention

Faith Youn of Closter Gold Key, 2 Silver Keys, 3 Honorable Mentions

Yeon “Elizabeth”Choe of Nutley Gold Key

Sophia Chounoune of Englewood Silver Key

Julianna Dail of Saddle River Silver Key, 3 Honorable Mentions

Ava Goyal of Montclair

chaos in the background of the piece is the current situation in Ukraine. The hand shows the protection, and the house colored in blue and yellow represents Ukraine. The hand that is holding up the little house conveys my message that we all deserve a home.”

This work will be adjudicated by a panel that will select one award winner from each region.

Ouyangʼs Gold Key-winning works also include “Art Studio,”

Artist Jiayi “Stella”Ouyang was recognized for “We All Deserve a Home,”the drawing/illustration for which she earned one of four Gold Keys.The work is a response to R ussian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

an architecture/industrial design project; “Take a Seat,” a painting; and “The Space Between,” an art portfolio. She earned Silver Keys for “Door B” and “Duality,” both of which are mixed media projects; and “Lamp Study,” a drawing/illustration. Her drawing “Skull Replica Study” received an Honorable Mention.

Yeon “Elizabeth” Choe received a Gold Key for her drawing/illustration “biological network.”

Sungmin Park was honored for two paintings. She received a Gold Key for “Offensive Beauty,” and a Silver Key for “Defiance.”

Rachelle Wu received two

Silver Key, Honorable Mention

Lauren Gumban of Lodi Silver Key

Eva Santelli of West Nyack, N.Y. Silver Key, Honorable Mention

Haruka Fujihara

Honorable Mention

Natalia Gonzalez of Paterson

3 Honorable Mentions

Isabella Lara of North Bergen

2 Honorable Mentions

Gabriella Ragucci of Harrington Park

Honorable Mention

Emma Spadora of Ridgewood

3 Honorable Mentions

AHA Middle School Honoree

Evangeline Koo, Grade 8, of

Gold Keys, two Silver Keys, and one Honorable Mention. Her Gold Key works include a drawing entitled “Black and White” and painting entitled “Hide and Seek.” Wu received her Silver Key for her drawing “Kimchi Fridge” and the Honorable Mention for her painting “All Eyes on Me.”

Faith Youn won a Gold Key for her mixed media work, “Dreaminʼ,” and Silver Keys for her sculpture, “Pressure Caves,” and her painting, “Drizzle.” Youn

also garnered three Honorable Mentions, including two for drawing/illustration and one for her architecture and industrial design work.

Youn enjoys expressing her

Park Ridge: Honorable Mention

Writers —

Elise Tao of Upper Saddle River Gold Key, 6 Silver Keys, 2 Honorable Mentions

Annika Watson of Montvale Gold Key

Reilly Guy of Fair Lawn

Honorable Mention

Sophia Karamanoukian of Englewood Cliffs

Honorable Mention

Claire Lee of Oradell

Honorable Mention

Sophia Lee of Allendale 2 Honorable Mentions

emotions, sparking curiosity, and presenting different ideas through her art and music. Her sculpture, “Pressure Caves” is a visual representation of how she feels when she performs the Bach Sonata, “Presto,” on her violin.

“Often when playing a piece like “Presto,” my hand cramps up because of its tempo and demanding composition of notes, yet when listening to it, the melody flows smoothly like a

Lauren Gumban The Tale of Hades and Persephone Digital Art Silver Key 2023.

Sophia Chounoune Pink Lemonade Digital Art Silver Key 2023.

Faith Youn Dream in Mixed Media Gold Key 2023.

S Sc c h h o o ol l N e w s

Art: AHA kids flourish in Scholastic competitions

FROM PAGE 20

singular line,” Youn said.

S he added, “Through my piece, I hoped to replicate this feeling of tightness and fluidity. Starting off at a singular starting square, the energy takes off, bouncing across my hands until it reaches the triangular end point. I use visual ʻvibrationsʼand fragmented perspectives to provide a sense of movement to my still hand. With wood rods, I abstractly cut up the view of the hand and painted various red streaks, replicating the flow of energy I feel in my hand. Through my work, I

hope to provide a perspective to the viewer of this feeling of tightness and fluidity that typically the performer only feels.”

Silver Key winning artists also include Sophia Chounoune, “ Pink Lemonade,” digital art; Julianna Dail, “Infinity,” photography; Ava Goyal, “Chains,” drawing/illustration; Lauren Gumban, “The Tale of Hades and Persephone,” digital art; and Eva Santelli, “Chasing Chords,” drawing/illustration.

Honorable Mentions went to artists Julianna Dail, two for photography; Haruka Fujihara, drawing/illustration; Natalia Gonzalez,

one for drawing/illustration and o ne for painting; Ava Goyal, mixed media; eighth grade student Evangeline Koo, drawing/illustration; Isabella Lara, two for digital a rt; Gabriella Ragucci, drawing/illustration; Eva Santelli, painting; and Emma Spadora, three for photography.

Writer Elise Tao of Upper Saddle River brought home a Gold Key for her poem, “Broken Records in the 2010s/2020s.” Her six Silver Keys include accolades for four poems, a journalistic

piece, and a critical essay.

Annika Watson received a Gold Key for her flash fiction subm ission, “Dandelions in the Spring.”

Writers who earned Honorable Mentions include Reilly Guy, “Soccer Moms,” humor; Sophia Karamanoukian “No Love,” poetry; Claire Lee, “Social Mediaʼs Eternal Damage on Teens v. Itʼs Temporary Benefits,” a critical essay; and Sophia Leeʼs poem

“Clockwork” and personal e ssay/memoir “What Fencing Taught Me.”

The Scholastic Art & Writing Competition was established in 1923 by publisher Maurice R. Robinson. This event is the countryʼs oldest and most prestigious competition for teens.

Notable honorees from prior years include Andy Warhol, Kay WalkingStick, Zac Posen, and Ezra Jack Keats.

Faith Youn Pressure Caves Sculpture Silver Key 2023.

Rachelle Wu Hide And Seek Painting Gold Key 2023.

Rachelle Wu Black And White Drawing Gold Key 2023.

BERGEN FAMILY CENTER PUTS ITS HEART INTO A VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER

BY HILLARY VIDERS FOR NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS

Teens had a delicious time on February 16 at the Bergen Family Center (BFC) in Englewoodʼs Community Valentineʼs Day dinner. The free event, organized by Teresa Tamayo, Director of the BFCʼs Middle School Program, welcomed 40 Englewood Middle School and High School students and their parents and guardians.

From 6:00 to 8:00 pm, visitors, volunteers and staff enjoyed a deli-

cious meal, games, and a photo booth.

Famed Chef Aaron Morrissey directed a group of BFC volunteers in the kitchen, where they prepared penne vodka, Caesar salad and garlic bread that was served with iced tea and assorted Valentine Cookies.

BFC President and CEO Mitch Schonfeld remarked, “These monthly dinners are intergenerational and they are role modeling for youngsters. They also help teenagers develop camaraderie and learn cooking and serving skills that

bolster their self-confidence and may even help them enter a career in culinary arts”.

When everyone was seated, Tamayo began the program with a warm welcome in Spanish as well as English. “Today we are celebrating all kind of love - family love, friendship, the love that we have for children and for this community.”

Following this greeting, Chef Morrissey described the dinner menu and then asked each person to say what he/she was grateful for. He started the recitation off by

announcing, “Today, I am grateful for having my mother and grandmother here!”

BFC Development Specialist

Amelia Rothstein explained that the

BFC has community dinners like this every month with a theme reflecting that time of year. “The children love the food, and after

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

BFC volunteers Adam Kashef, Shalom Kennedy and Amar Carouthers and staff member Johenna Cruz (second from left) assisted Chef Aaron Morrissey

Valentine's Day Dinner- Middle School students brought their families to the festive event

Settingthestandardindentalimplanttherapy

Dental implants are not all the same and have varying success rates. The success is dependent on the product and the practitioner. As a periodontist, which is the ONLY specialty recognized by the American Dental Association as a “dental implant specialist,” I feel it is important to inform the commu-

nity about how dental implant treatments have changed over the past 50 years causing a decline in success.

Dental implants have been well researched and placed in patients by periodontist and oral surgeons since the 1970s. The published scientific literature in the ʼ70s and ʼ80s estimated 97-99% success rates when controlled for certain systemic diseases & smoking. More recently, the success rates have gone down while research and knowledge has increased.

In 2007, I graduated from a

full-time three-year dental implant specialty training program from Rutgers Dental School called Periodontics. This was in addition to general dental school. At the time, only a handful of companies were fabricating dental implants. These companies were partnered with universities, periodontists and oral surgeons for decades to establish research to prove that their products met or exceeded the standard of care which was 97-99% success rate for 20-plus years.

Periodontists followed up on

the implants for decades to see how the implants lasted in patientsʼ mouths: to see if gum disease developed or affected them, if loss of an adjacent tooth affected them, if the implant suffered consequences from smoking or if added to a denture. This is all the knowledge which is taught at a university level and takes years to learn. If implants are meant to last forever, it must be handled in such a manner and treatment planned accordingly anticipating changes to a patientʼs dentition and aging.

Today many more companies are fabricating these implants and come from overseas with little to no research proving their product has the same level success. This is completely legal through the FDA 501(k) approval process which allows clearance to sell the product.

But this should not preclude the company to perform some level of research to protect the public. These “knock-off” implants are much cheaper and have not taken initiative to prove their success.

What is also happening is that these implant companies and private companies are offering

short term “training programs” to general dentists in attempts to sell more product so generalists can do these surgical services at their.

In my opinion, as dental implants are meant to be a permanent tooth replacement option, it is important to go to a trained specialist, who is a periodontist, who has the science a nd university-based training and the opportunity to practice these procedures hundreds of times on patients before a private practice setting.

I am a solo, female, dental implant specialist, surgeon and periodontist. I am a lead to a team of four hygienists, each with over 25 years of experience. I place hundreds of dental implants a year and follow them in my highly trained hygiene practice. I partner with many general dentists throughout Bergen County to design, perform and maintain complex dental implant restorations.

For more information, call (201) 664-3023 or visit their office at 354 Old Hook Road #201 or WestwoodPeriodontics.com.

Health,Wellness &FitnessGuide

DR. KAPLAN: Is your brain getting enough oxygen?

To function at its highest level, the brain needs oxygen, healthy food, and lots of neuronal activation.

This week we discuss how to maximize oxygen intake. If your body does not have enough oxygen and has too much carbon dioxide, it becomes unhealthy and acidic, instead of healthy and alkaline.

If the body is too acidic, it can lead to a weak immune system, headaches, fatigue, weight gain, trouble sleeping, weak bones, tooth pain, poor digestion, inflammation and brain fog.

Foods to avoid to reduce the acidity in the body are not necessarily the acidic foods, but more the inflammatory foods like milk, eggs, meat, processed foods, coffee, soda, bagged snacks, canned foods, and deli meats. Foods to consume that make the body more alkaline are kale, broccoli, arugula, spinach, cucumbers, nuts, collards, seeds, legumes, and raisins.

So not only can you improve your well-being by breathing properly, you can also help improve your health by eating properly.

To really boost your brainpower and improve memory and focus, breathing correctly is vital because it will help you get the ideal amount of oxygen to your brain and other organs to function best.

The proper way to breathe is a one-to-two ratio of inhale to exhale. If you inhale for two seconds, it is best to exhale for four seconds. Perform this breathing exercise five times and then repeat it three times a day for one week. Then the following week, extend your inhalation to three seconds and your exhalation to six seconds. For the next week, inhale for four seconds and exhale for eight seconds. Repeat this process all the way up to inhaling for eight seconds and exhaling for 16 seconds.

The good news is that one of the easiest ways to make your body strong, healthy, and resilient is to improve oxygenation.

Since the brain needs oxygen to function at optimal levels, it is best to breathe from your diaphragm, as the body intended. As you inhale, it is best to push your stomach down and out like a pregnant belly. Try not to breathe from your shoulders or your chest, keep your chin up slightly, and bring back your shoulders as you take the large inhale. When you exhale, bring your stomach in and tighten your core. This will maximize oxygen intake, improve posture, reduce anxiety, and increase core stability.

Moreover, to ensure youʼre getting enough oxygen, adding highoxygen-producing plants in and around your household can help just as much as focusing on breathing. The best oxygen-producing plants are money plants, snake plants, spider plants, aloe vera, gerbera daisies,

areca palms, and chinese evergreens. If you have yard space, I recommend planting lots of trees, as well. One tree produces enough oxygen for five people.

Another important factor that drastically affects breathing is paying attention to your posture. Many adults and children have bad breathing habits and poor posture due to “text neck” because they are always looking down at their cell phones, computers, and iPads. Not only does this cause poor posture, but it also decreases their oxygen levels, and that may lead to anxiety, depression, low energy, headaches, neck pain, a hunchback, and difficulty concentrating.

One at-home exercise you can do to help combat this problem is to stand up, look up, and roll your shoulders back in big circles for 30 seconds. Perform this posture exercise at least three times a day. In our office, lots of patients improve their posture by getting spinal manipulative therapy that realigns their spine to help improve posture. As the posture improves, the amount of oxygen usually increases, as well.

When there is a lack of oxygen to the brain this can lead to headaches and dizziness. One condition, called POTS, can even cause the heart to beat really fast. These patients usually get very lightheaded and can even pass out if they transition too quickly from a lying or seated position to a standing position. For this problem, a Table Tilt Test can help to diagnose it or a functional neurologist can help determine if there is dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. You can ask your doctor if that is appropriate for you.

Because your brain health depends so much on oxygen, it is very important to monitor your oxygen levels. You can check it frequently by using a pulse oximeter device. Many believe that your blood oxygen saturation should be above 94 or 95 percent, but in my opinion, it should be at least 98 percent or higher because it will increase your energy, vitality, and help make your immune system stronger

So as you can see, in addition to good nutrition and an active lifestyle, increasing oxygen levels through proper breathing, plant care, and improving posture are some of the most important factors in boosting your brainpower.

Great special offers!

The brain is very complicated and we need to make sure it gets enough oxygen and energy to perform at optimal levels. One of the best neurology tools we have in our office is called a qEEG with neurofeedback which measures brain waves. Basically you wear what looks like a swimmers cap on your head. It has electrodes attached to it and can measure the different areas of the brain and tell you what areas are not functioning well. It is noninvasive, there is no radiation, no pain, and only takes about 15 minutes to perform.

If you are interested in getting

this complete neurological evaluation (valued at $500) to find out how reduce depression and anxiety, while improving motivation, memory and focus using applied neuroscience, neuroplasticity, as well as hyperbaric chamber oxygen therapy, cold laser, and neurofeedback, please sign up by calling or texting (646) 221-6738. If you are one the first seven people that respond, you can receive the entire brain mapping for only $21. You can also email info@kaplanbrainandbody.com

For more information about functional neurology and services,

please visit our website www.kaplandc.com. Follow my weekly articles for updates on upcoming lectures and follow our Instagram page @kaplanbrainbody or Facebook page Kaplan Brain and Body for lots of valuable health tips.

Also, please listen to my radio shows every Saturday morning at 8 on 970 AM as well as Saturday afternoon on 710 AM at 2. Lastly, I will be running a live Boost Your Brain Power Seminar Series that runs March 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in River Edge.

This first seminar is about the

holistic and natural ways to reverse, as well as prevent, insomnia and chronic fatigue. Each seminar, which covers different topics such as mastering nutrition, natural reducing inflammation, learning functional brain exercises, and the Boost Your Brain Power Bootcamp, is $100, but if you call or text (646) 221-6738 before March 22, you can go to all the live events, or participate on Zoom, or you can even get all the recordings for a total of $49 (only $10 a module).

Itʼs a no brainer! Hope to see you there.

SmileMoreDentistry:Look 10 years younger

“Living longer” is only half the goal. Life expectancy is increasing, but donʼt just add years to your life, add quality to it! Thatʼs where “our kind” of dentistry comes in. We have an antiaging smile care program just for our senior patients

New research has proven that good oral health is essential to good overall health and a high quality of life.

Do you have stained or yellowed teeth? A simple cleaning to remove surface stains and in-office whitening can brighten your smile.

Do you have old crowns that are at least 10 years old? The kind that doesnʼt look natural and metal showing around the gums? The crown could be leaking and causing damage to your tooth underneath the old crown. The new crowns now are more natural without the metal.

Do you have gaps or crooked teeth? We can close gaps and straighten teeth comfortably, quickly, and safely without metal braces or cutting down teeth. My oldest patient who wished her par-

Smile More Dentistry is at 140 Oak Tree Road,Tappan,N.Y.Call (845) 367-7782 or Bergenfield (201) 453-4867.

ents put her in braces when she was younger, had her teeth straightened at our office at the age of 73. It was always her dream to have straight teeth and now she does. She is now 87 years young as a snowbird playing golf in Florida.

Do you have spaces between your teeth? Chipped, crooked or worn-down teeth? These teeth needs to be rejuvenated and protected before more damage occurs.

Bonding, Veneers or porcelain is the solution. Your smile can be transformed in less than two weeks.

Missing teeth and loose dentures? Implants are a great way to get back the teeth youʼve lost. Implants can replace your dentures. If you are on a budget and canʼt invest in implants, a new denture might be all you need. Our office is known as the “facelift” denture office.

Loose teeth? Bad breath? These are signs of something more is happening to your whole body health and not just your smile. This should be addressed as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment right away with your dentist.

A vibrant life, beautiful white teeth, healthy gums and fresh breath are just as important for you now as they were “back in the day.”

Call now get started on our anti-aging smile care program. Smile More Dentistry, 140 Oak Tree Road, Tappan, N.Y. (845) 367-7782 or Bergenfield (201) 453-4867. Visit www.dentisttappan.com.

DR. ERIC KAPLAN, KAPLAN BRAIN & BODY

NORTHERN VALLEY

Bergen Family Center

FROM PAGE 22 eating, they get to play in a number of activities led by volunteers.”

At this yearʼs Valentineʼs Day dinner there was a photobooth, heart shaped picture frame crafting, a unicorn toss, a Connect Four game station, a Unicorn Toss and a temporary tattoo station.

The BFC student helpers were Shalom Kennedy, Eric Guzman, Adam Kashef and Gabriel Merchan Ferreira.

In addition to Tamayo, Rothstein and Chef Morrissey, staff

members who participated included Rachel Solomon, Devyn Reidy, Johenna Cruz and Jonathan Acosta.

A RICH HISTORY OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES

Bergen Family Center (BFC) has a rich history, both in the past as well as recently. In 1898, The Womanʼs Club of Englewood founded what is now Bergen Family Center, which makes it the oldest continuously operating family agency in Bergen County.

The first agency program provided immigrant families with a

high-quality after-school program, built upon the very same foundation of values upon which it operates 125 years later:

• Be an innovator of services a nd programs to meet unmet needs of families;

• Emphasize multi-cultural service to those with low and moderate income , particularly in the native language(s) of newcomers to our community

• Ensure a quality education for young children

Throughout the 1900ʼs BFC grew via mergers and created several programs including what are now Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the Urban League for Bergen County, and Heightened Independence & Progress.

Now, in 2023, Bergen Family Center is a $6M agency with a staff of 115 providing 455,000 hours of service to over 4,000 unduplicated clients annually.

BFC operates two major program sites and delivers services in local schools, and community facilities. Programs in the main building at 44 Armory St. focus on early learning, adult day services and family success. At our other location, 228 GrandAve., SESCIL: Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living, seniors take classes and have special workshops enriching their minds, bodies, and souls.

BFC Staff include those trained

in education, social work, child development, psychology, youth development & gerontology. Participants are from the diverse population residing in Northern New Jersey, and range in age from 4

BFC follows the core values of: community, safety, respect, q uality, collaboration, and integrity.

Amongst new programs are t he monthly teen and family

months to 95.

Recent highlights include an extensive strategic planning process resulting in becoming a trauma informed care agency with an emphasis on ensuring that diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are practiced.

dinners, at which the young people learn cooking skills from Bergen Community College culinary faculty, and the adults and teens engage in workshops that strengthen families.

Photos by Hillary Viders

A mom with her teenage daughter enjoyed delicious pasta and Caeser salad.

From left- BFC Development Specialist Amelia Rothstein, Director of the BFC’s Middle School Program Teresa Tamayo, Rachel Solomon and volunteers showed the love.

McCann: Biddy O’Malley’s captures the Irish craic

FROM PAGE 11

epic proportions and centuries later, he was honored as the patron saint of Ireland.

With many of my childhood beliefs now questionable or debunked, I consider my older ones. I was in my twenties when I first visited Ireland. I thought I was prepared for the beauty of the country, friendliness of the people, and gloriousness of the lifestyle. I was not.

Although I was astounded by everything, there was one venue in particular that I wanted to explore. It was an area where both culture and tradition — two different concepts — intermix: the gastropub.

The foundation of the Irish gastropub lies on the promise of conviviality and hospitality. It has been said that an Irish pub has to have “caint, ceol, agus craic.” The first two words easily translate to “chat” and “music,” but craic is a word of its own. The best explanation is that it derives from Irelandʼs lighthearted way of life, a way of living in the moment and doing something just because you love it.

I visited many gastropubs, including Seanʼs Bar, considered to be the oldest, dating back to 900 AD. Most pubs are named for the family that has owned it for generations. All of them had a comeone, come-all feel. No VIP rooms, no getting past the bouncers. I realized that as I walked through the doors of the Irish pubs, I walked into a happier, more gratifying way of life.

I am reassured that at least my belief in the Irish gastro-pub was confirmed. And it set me on a quest to find anywhere that replicated it when I moved to New Jersey. I succeeded. Located in a charming, orange building, with

an outside portrait of a womanʼs face — sporting a Celtic complexion of her own — is Biddy OʼMalleyʼs.

Opening a gastropub had been a dream of owners Noel and Eileen OʼMalley for years. Noel immigrated to the United States from County Clare, Ireland in 1994. He started working in pubs and restaurants but continued to think about the feel of the gastropubs back in Ireland. When he met Eileen, from Cresskill, they started visiting Ireland together. They often frequented gastropub Monks Ballyvaughan, located in a small harbor village of County Clare. It became their goal to bring the gastropub experience to the Northern Valley.

Although it took many years for the right opportunity to come along, it finally did. The name came easier: Biddy is Eileenʼs nickname. The doors to Biddy OʼMalleyʼs opened in Northvale in June 2011.

There is no doubt that the food at Biddyʼs is delectable. The kitchen, run by their talented chef Rebecca Schwartz, focuses on using locally sourced provisions

whenever possible. On Biddyʼs m enu, everything from classic Irish fare such as shepherdʼs pie and fish and chips to contemporary American dishes is offered.

Of course, the bar lives up to authentic Irish gastropubsʼexamples as well. With an extensive array of liquors and wines offered, there are also 13 bottled beers and 12 beers on tap. Three on tap include two Irish beers and one stout: Smithwickʼs, Harp, and Guinness.

But for me, what really sets Biddy OʼMalleyʼs apart is that it captures the Irish “craic.” From t he moment I walked into Biddyʼs on my first visit I felt at h ome. There is a feel-good atmosphere that is hard to find anywhere other than the pubs in Ireland. A fireplace crackles in the corner. The wait service makes certain your visit is exceptional. The owners are warm and embracing.

Thinking about it, it is most likely for these reasons that my sisters and I took Mom there on her first venture out of her assisted living home once pandemic restrictions were finally relaxed.

It may also have been why my niece chose this restaurant to tell the family she was expecting her baby, the first of our familyʼs next generation.

I met with Biddy as I researched this article. She told me that she and Noel had the goal to “open a cozy, friendly pub with thoughtfully prepared food in a warm, welcoming setting, with good wine and a great pint!”

They greatly succeeded.

My confidence in Irish traditions is restored. I realize that it does not matter to me how outlandish the beginnings of some Irish traditions may be. Come this March 17, I will don my green to

be invisible to leprechauns, clutch my shamrock plant to ward off evil spirits, and raise a pint with a cheer to Ireland: “Erin go Bragh!”

Biddy OʼMalleyʼs is at 191 Paris Ave., Northvale. Call (201) 564-7893. Typical hours are Mon-Thur 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., FriSat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. St. Patrickʼs Day hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (There will be a special holiday menu featuring Irish dishes as well as American fare.) You can reach Tara McCann at n orthernvalleypress@ t hepressgroup.net.

Southern Cooking

FROM PAGE 10

ing Workshop was chaired by Brown, and the committee members were Victoria Hepburn, Diane Christian, Muriel Brantley, Vernon Gibbs, Jennifer Elroy, Carol

Schulzrinne, Felicia Arrigoitia, Shirley Gyimah. Arlene Mattis and Eva Jennings.

Arrigoitia is always enthused about the Southern Cook Workshop. “I love the joy, the embellishments, the camaraderie, and the way it brings people together.”

As the meal drew to a close, Reverend Hong gave a moving prayer of thanks and recognition of the Black Community. “We celebrate this beautiful time, this wonderful food and the African American culture that has given so much to our country.”

Gottheimer opens satellite office here

work with and help Englewoodʼs incredible residents, families, small businesses, and first responders. This new satellite office will be a key foothold for our operations in Englewood, and for many surrounding towns in the Fifth District,” said Gotthiemer in a statement provided to Northern Valley Press

He added, “As many of you know, since coming to Congress, my team and I have made it our mission to have the best constituent services in the nation. I think the numbers behind our work speak volumes to my all-star teamʼs dedication to North Jersey.”

Over the past two years Gottheimer and his team have helped hundreds of veterans get access to their VA benefits and service medals; helped more seniors access their earned Social Security checks; helped get countless constituents back home from being stranded overseas; assisted with passport processes, helped hundreds fight the IRS; and helped thousands of constituents get their unemployment benefits.

Team Gottheimer said it has helped Fifth District residents get back tens of millions of dollars by cutting through red tape at federal agencies.

Since 2017, the Fifth District is now up more than 357% in grants, resources, and federal dol-

U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced the opening of a new Englewood constituent services satellite office. The new satellite office will be professionally staffed by Gottheimerʼs top-tier Constituent Services team and will be available to help all Fifth District North Jersey residents experiencing any issues with a federal agency, VA benefits, Social Security, Medicare, passports, potholes, and so much more. Englewood is one of several new towns in the Fifth Congressional District represented by Gottheimer.

“My team and I are excited to

lars clawed back from Washington. For 2021 alone, the federal tax dollars clawed back amount to an average savings of more than $750 for each household in the Fifth District. By clawing more federal investment back to North Jersey helps to lower local property taxes, make local communities safer, and make life more affordable.

Gottheimer was joined by Senator Gordon Johnson, Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes, Council President Judith Maron, Councilmember Dr. Lisa Wisotsky, and City Manager Robert Hoffmann.

Diamond Vision laser treatments offered in Paramus

Dr. Steven Stetson, MD is a board-certified ophthalmologist who has led Diamond Vision since 2009 with a mission of providing outstanding refractive surgery services to the public by investing in cutting edge technologies and marrying them with unrivaled surgical technique and experience.

Stetson is a decorated veteran, and was chief of the U.S. Air Force Academyʼs prestigious Laser Eye Clinic, where he had the privilege to perform the first LASIK procedure on an active duty U.S. Air Force airman, a fourstar general who was then commander of NORAD and U.S. Space Command.

Refractive surgery services provided at Diamond Vision include all-laser LASIK (Intralase,) traditional LASIK, photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK,) astigmatic keratecomy, Implantable collamer Lenses/EVO ICL, cataract extraction and refractive lens exchange, as well as

ocular surface enhancing services such as Lipiflow and IPL (intense pulse light.)

The team at Diamond Vision, a Sharpest Vision brand, is dedicated to seeing their patients thrive and improving their quality of life by enhancing their visual freedom — and reducing their dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

About Topography-Guided LASIK

In topo-guided LASIK, a topography instrument maps the cornea to guide the laser procedure with extreme precision. The instrument, the Vario Topolyzer, measures 22,000 microscopic peaks and valleys on the cornea.

The measurement map is used to create customized laser treatment and a smooth cornea for every patient.

Topo-guided lasers provide the ability to smooth irregular hills and valleys on the cornea while wavefront-guided lasers bounce light off

the back of the eye to identify and then reduce vision aberrations that can cause blurred eyesight.

Diamond Vision utilizes both of these sight-improving technologies, allowing for a truly customized laser vision correction procedure.

Diamond Vision invests in the latest technology to ensure only proper candidates for laser surgery undergo vision correction procedures. See for yourself. At its locations throughout the Tri-State Area, Diamond Vision, a Sharpest Vision brand, is a full-service refractive practice and performs a multitude of eye procedures to reduce dependency on glasses.

When you go

Diamond Vision is at 1 Kalisa Way #209, Paramus. Call (888) 678-4341. For hours, to schedule a free consultation, for appointments, and details on fees and services, visit diamondvision.com.

Photos by Hillary Viders

Children had a ball preparing candied yams.

Arlene Mattis, Felicia Arrigoitia and Muriel Brantley showed their kitchen skills.

ENGLEWOOD

Gottheimer was joined by Senator Gordon Johnson,Englewood Mayor Michael Wildes,Council President Judith Maron,Councilmember Dr.Lisa Wisotsky,and City Manager Robert Hoffmann.

SCHOOLBOARDMEETINGS, 2023

As approved at the board of education, this is the schedule of public meetings (work sessions and regular meetings) for the year.

Most meetings begin with a closed session at approximately 7:15 p.m., and an open session immediately following at approximately 8 at the Hegelein Building, 500 Tenafly Road. (Reorganization and retreats begin at 6 p.m.)

Meeting dates and times are

subject to change.

•Monday, March 13 preliminary budget/work session

• Monday, March 20 regular public meeting

• Monday, April 17 work session

•Monday, April 24 final budget hearing/regular public meeting

• Monday, May 15 work session

•Monday, May 22 regular pub-

lic meeting

•Monday, June 12 work session

• Monday, June 19 regular public meeting

•Monday, July 24 work session

•Monday, July 31 regular public meeting

• Monday, Aug. 21 work session

• Monday, Aug. 28 regular pub-

lic meeting

•Monday, Sept. 11 work session

•Wednesday, Sept. 20 board retreat

• Tuesday, Sept. 26 regular public meeting

•Monday, Oct. 16 work session

• Monday, Oct. 23 regular public meeting

•Wednesday, Nov. 1 board

retreat*

•Monday, Nov. 13 work session

•Monday, Nov. 20 regular public meeting

• Monday, Dec. 4 work session

•Monday, Dec. 11 regular public meeting

• Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 reorganization of the board

CROSSING GUARD P/T

BORO OF EMERSON.

The Borough of Emerson, Bergen County, NJ has an opening for a P/T Crossing Guard. Experience preferred but will train. Background check required. Approximately 10 hours per week. Apply at Borough Hall, Police Department, 146 Linwood Avenue, Emerson. EOE.

Part Time Shop Manager in Westwood - JVS

Landscaping/Powerwashing * & Christmas Lighting is looking to fill a part-time Shop Manager position. Due to the seasonal nature of this position, the ideal candidate will have the ability to work a varying schedule.

Primary responsibility of this position is inventory management for landscape & holiday decorating materials. Attention to detail, the ability to follow processes & procedures & organizational skills are critical qualities. Ability to operate small to mid-size trucks required, as is a drivers license. Additional responsibilities include facility maintenance, picking up materials & possibly additional responsibilities such as equipment maintenance as the position grows. Hours & requirements of this position will fluctuate throughout the year. The busiest times will be during our holiday decorating season of Oct. thru Jan., when hours will be up to 40/week working Mon. thru Fri. From Feb. thru Sept., hours will vary from 8 to 24 hours per week. Call 844-642-9627 for more details.

DPW LABORER, FULLTIME – BOROUGH OF WESTWOOD. The Borough of Westwood is accepting applications for a Full Time Laborer positions in the Department of Public Works. Responsibilities include but are not limited to manual labor; snow plowing; maintenance of roads, parks, grounds, sewers, landscaping, leaf/brush collection; road work; tree work; equipment operation in all weather conditions, and some mandatory overtime. Must be available to wok some Saturday’s. HS diploma or equivalent, valid

Driver’s License required; must have CDLClass B License. Successful applicant must undergo background check and drug test prior to appointment. Employment applications are available on the Borough website www.westwoodnj.gov or can be picked up at Borough Hall, 101 Washington Avenue. Submit completed applications to Attention: Rick Woods, Superintendent or email rwoods@westwoodnj.gov no later than March 3, 2023. EOE

SERVICES - CLEANING Want Business? Call (201) 664-2105

Cleaning business that values honesty and integrity with many years exp. Competitively priced with close attention to detail. Ref. Avail. Satisfaction Guaranteed. Call or text Analu for free estimate. 973-474-7383

Paul Phykitt

Live-in housekeeper, private room with full bath,